2025 – 2026 SEASON

THE ELORA SINGERS

Saturday, November 8, 2025 – 2:30 pm

ST. PAULS'S CENTRE

They're back in Orillia to start off our 2025/2026 concert season.

The Elora Singers, under the direction of Mark Vuorinen, has established an international reputation as one of Canada's finest professional choirs. Founded in 1980, it is the ensemble-in-residence of the Elora Festival for three weeks each summer, in addition to presenting a regular concert series, producing recordings, and touring across Canada and internationally.

With twelve releases on the NAXOS label, the Grammy- and JUNO-nominated Elora Singers is recognized for its rich, warm sound and clarity of texture. The choir is renowned for its diverse styles, for its commitment to presenting and commissioning Canadian repertoire, and for collaborating with Canadian and international artists. Recent and upcoming collaborations include Voces8, the State Choir LATVIJA, the Grand Philharmonic Choir, Festival of the Sound, Canadian composers Stephanie Martin and Peter-Anthony Togni and the TorQ Percussion Quartet. A recording featuring new works by Barbara Assiginaak (Giishkaapkag) and Reena Esmail (This Love Between Us) was released in 2020 a Christmas recording, Radiant Dawn, was released in November 2021, and this past summer, The Elora Singers released their newest album, In Beauty May I Walk.

Community outreach is a vital part of The Elora Singers' mandate. We are pleased to provide the gift of music to Elora and Wellington County residents through our Arts Connect music program at the Elora Centre for the Arts and the Circle of Song program at Wellington Terrace Long-Term Care Home. In December 2020, we shared our Nativity Festival online concerts with almost 300 retirement and long-term care homes, hospitals and social services support centres across Ontario and Canada.

For more information about The Elora Singers, visit their website.

TERRY LIM AND FRIENDS

Sunday, February 22, 2026 – 2:30 pm

Orillia Opera House

Our second concert features a quintet under the leadership of Terry Lim. Music selections are jazz-infused classical music arranged for 2 flutes, cello, percussion and piano.

Terry Lim, flute

Described as "imaginative and magical", Terry Lim is a multifaceted flutist known for musical risk taking and brilliant artistry. He received his Bachelor of Music degree with an international soloist, Lorna Mcghee, at the University of British Columbia. He was also a former faculty member at the UBC Summer Music Institute and New York University. Currently, he is teaching at McMaster University. Terry has performed in various music festivals and concert series across North America, including Ottawa International Chamberfest, Stratford Summer Music, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Banff Centre, Redshift Society, Music on Main, New Music Edmonton and Pierre Monteux. He also has been heard on the radio and in concert halls throughout the United States, Canada and Asia, performing at the Chan Center, Kimmel Center, Carnegia Hall, DiMenna Center, Alice Tully Hall, and Merkin Hall.

As an energetic proponent for chamber and contemporary music, Terry has created a dynamic force in the music world highly regarded for his music concerts of various styles and genres. He has worked closely with numerous composers and has given several world premieres. Terry is a member of Toronto-based ensembles, Thin Edge New Music Collective and Charm of Finches. He is also the artistic director and general manager of the Caledon Music Festival. Besides performing, Terry maintains a private flute studio, delivering weekly solo and chamber music lessons, adjudicates festivals across Canada and appears as guest speaker in university classroom and festival panels.
Terry is an International Artist for Trevor James Flutes and Beaumont Music.

Sarah Yunji Moon, flute

Toronto-based Flutist Sarah Moon enjoys an active performance and teaching career all over Ontario. She balances her schedule between teaching and conducting at Queen's University in Kingston during the week, and rehearsals and performances weekends in Toronto. In 2018, Sarah joined Blythwood Winds, a prestigious professional woodwind quintet in the GTA.
From 2016 to 2018, Sarah held the principal flute position with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and also taught at the University of Saskatchewan during her time there. In 2019, she was invited back to perform Christos Hatzis' Concerto for Flute 'Departure' with the SSO, which was received with rave reviews.

Sarah's previous orchestra engagements include Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax from 2008-2010, and Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2014.

Sarah received Bachelor of Arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and Master's Degree in Contemporary Performance from Manhattan School of Music in New York, NY.

Amahl Arulanandam, cello

With tastes ranging from baroque music to death metal, Toronto-based cellist Amahl Arulanandam is known for his musical versatility and ability to adapt to many different genres. Feeling at home in studios, small clubs and large concert-halls, Amahl hopes to convey that musical expression is beyond genres and labels.

In the "classical" realm of Toronto, Amahl is quickly becoming known as a strong advocate for the music of our time, performing with ensembles such as Soundstreams, New Music Concerts, Tapestry Opera, FAWN Chamber Creative, Thin Edge New Music Collective, Art of Time Ensemble, Freesound Collective and Music in the Barns, as well as regular appearances at the 21C Music Festival. In his time with these ensembles, he has had the opportunity to work closely with leading composers such as Salvatore Sciarrino, Ana Sokolovic, Luna Pearl Woolf, Bekah Simms and Brian Current and has been involved in the Toronto, Canadian and World premieres of dozens of new works.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Amahl has presented several recitals and performed alongside artists such as David Geringas, Robert Aitken, Steven Dann, Angela Cheng, and Jeffrey Beecher. He toured the US with Matt Haimovitz' all-cello ensemble, Uccello and was a featured artist at the Salzburg Chamber Music Festival and Ottawa Chamberfest. Amahl is a co-founder of VC2 Cello Duo alongside friend and colleague, Bryan Holt, who recently released their second album, I and Thou, featuring newly commissioned and never-recorded Canadian cello music, in February 2023.

Outside of classical music, Amahl has performed and recorded with many incredible artists including Allison Au, Laila Biali, Jherek Bischoff, Aline Homzy, Adi Braun, Sarah Slean, Naomi McCaroll-Butler, Half Moon Run and Jann Arden. Recently Amahl recorded cello for Laila Biali's Wintersongs, Allison Au's upcoming Migrations Suite album and Bekah Simms' Foreverdark.

Jamie Drake, percussion

Jamie Drake is a percussionist, drummer and composer, whose musical interests span from environmental chamber music to Motown, and who values collaboration and integrity. As a member of TorQ Percussion Quartet, he has performed across North America and as a featured soloist with the Toronto Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Niagara Symphony, Kingston Symphony, Kitchener Waterloo Symphony and the Buffalo Philharmonic, as well as numerous wind ensembles, and has premiered works by composers including Christos Hatzis, Dinuk Wijeratne and Nicole Lizée. Jamie regularly performs with orchestras and choirs across the GTA, and also serves as the percussionist for the Toronto Children's Chorus and Hamilton Children's Choir. Active in musical theatre, Jamie has played percussion for Mirvish, Musical Stage Company, Soulpepper, Young People's Theatre and Canadian Stage, and has played drums for singers including Ron Sexsmith, Jackie Richardson, Jully Black, Divine Brown and more. For the last 10 years he has served as the percussionist in Toronto's favourite Motown band The Big Sound. He received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto, and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at the DAN School of Drama and Music at Queen's University.

Joonghun Cho, piano

Praised by El Comercio as a "pianist with a masterful display of artistry, affirming his well-deserved reputation,"Joonghun Cho is a dedicated performing artist known for his versatility as a pianist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. He has concertized widely giving performances across South Korea, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovakia, the UK, Canada, Japan, and the United States. His performances have included solo appearances with renowned orchestras, such as the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Philharmonia, and Brescia Master Orchestra. His musical prowess has also led to invitations as a guest artist at esteemed music festivals such as the Gijón International Piano Festival, Porto Pianofest, Palmetto International Piano Festival, Yeon-Eum Summer Music Festival, Festival Internacional de Música José Luis Vega "Pelis," and American Liszt Society Festival.

Joonghun's passion for collaborative music extends to his flourishing career as a chamber musician. Joonghun has had the privilege of showcasing his chamber music performances at numerous renowned institutions including the Eastman School of Music, University of Michigan, University of Toronto, Royal Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and Oakland University. Notably, he recently collaborated on a recording project featuring new compositions by William Horne, which was released by Blue Griffin Recording Label in 2024.

In addition to his performing career, Joonghun has garnered numerous prizes in international competitions. His achievements include the gold medal in the Vienna International Music Competition, first prize in the Master Orchestra International Concerto Competition, second prize in the William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition, first prize in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Japan, second prize in the Schimmel USASU International Piano Competition, and third prize in the Glasgow International Piano Competition for Young Pianists.

Born in Suwon, South Korea, Joonghun commenced his musical journey at the Yewon School and Seoul Art High School in Seoul, studying under the guidance of Min Sook Jeon, Tong-il Han, and Hyoung-Joon Chang. Upon relocating to the United States, he pursued his Bachelor of Music in piano performance at the Eastman School of Music, studying with Barry Snyder. Joonghun continued his musical education at the University of Michigan under the mentorship of Logan Skelton, completing both his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts.

Currently based in Toronto, Canada, Joonghun serves as the artistic director for the Gibson Classical Concert Series.

 

 

MERCER-PARK DUO

Sunday, March 22, 2026 – 2:30 pm

ST. PAUL'S CENTRE

Rachel Mercer, cello www.rachelmercercellist.com 

Angela Park, piano www.angelapark.com 

Youtube link to a recent concert.

Since their debut recital in 2006, cellist Rachel Mercer and pianist Angela Park have delighted audiences across North America with their passionately committed performances and "dazzling blaze of virtuoso musicianship" (Claire Hogenkamp, Artist/Arts Advocate).  

Having performed worldwide as soloists and chamber musicians, they have worked together in such acclaimed groups as the AYR Trio, St. John-Mercer-Park Trio, Seiler Trio, and JUNO award-winning Ensemble Made In Canada. 

The Mercer-Park Duo has performed at series and festivals across Canada, and have been recorded and broadcast by CBC Radio. Exploring a wide range of repertoire, from the standards of Beethoven and Brahms, through the romantics and the 20th century, to the music of this current generation, the duo tells a story from the stage. 

Both have been involved with concerts in small communities, outreach presentations for schools and other learning centres, masterclasses and workshops in communities and universities, and idea-sharing forums such as Contact or TED. 

The Mercer-Park Duo released their second all-Canadian album of composers of their generation on Naxos Canadian Classics in 2014. 

They are grateful to have been funded by the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and FACTOR.

 

THE BROOKS, RONAI, TESKE TRIO

Sunday, May 3, 2026 – 2:30 pm

St. Andrew's Presbyterian

Our fourth concert for the 2025/6 season features the voices with piano accompaniment of The Brooks, Ronai, Teske Trio.

Lillian Brooks, mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Lillian Brooks has been praised for her "legato, lyric sound" (Ludwig van Toronto) and "easy handling of coloratura" (Schmopera). Lillian made her professional debut in 2015 with Chorus Niagara performing Mozart's Requiem under the baton of Robert Cooper. Her love for oratorio and concert work continues to grow as she finds herself in high demand in repertoire such as Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Bach's St John Passion and St Matthew Passion, Vivaldi's Gloria, Durufle's Requiem, and Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde and Rückert Lieder. Equally at home on the operatic stage, her roles include Bradamante in Alcina (Handel), Annio in La clemenza di Tito (Mozart), Flora in La Traviata (Verdi), Cornelia in Giulio Cesare (Handel), and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart).

Lillian graduated cum laude from York University in 2015, and received her Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Glenn Gould School in 2017. She then went on to participate in the 2018 Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in Aldeburgh, UK, where she studied with internationally acclaimed faculty including Matthew Rose and Anne-Sofie von Otter. Lillian enjoyed two years with Calgary Opera as a member of their McPhee Artist Development Program during their 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.

Lillian has performed and continues to perform with renowned Canadian ensembles including Calgary Philharmonic, Chorus Niagara, Toronto City Opera, the Grand Philharmonic Choir, and Toronto Operetta Theatre.

Anna Ronai, Piano

Anna Ronai has performed at major venues in Europe, North America and China, including the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in New York, Gläserner Saal, Musikverein, and Schubert Saal, Konzerthaus in Vienna.

Anna is a graduate of the Music University of the Arts Vienna, with two Masters degrees, one in Piano Performance and the other in Collaborative Piano. She maintained vocal and instrumental coaching positions at the Vienna and Innsbruck Conservatories, and a faculty position for piano chamber music at the Institute for European Studies in Vienna.

Anna has appeared and placed in several major Lied Duo competitions such as the Robert Schumann Duo Competition in Zwickau, Germany, the East & West Artists International Auditions in New York, and Schubert und die Moderne in Graz, Austria.

2009 she moved to Canada and since then she continues her performances. Up to today she is a coach accompanist, Lecturer at Wilfrid Laurier University, as well a piano instructor at Conrad Grebel University College.

Anna is also a yoga teacher and continues to connect, share her passion for music and mindful movement in the community.

Alexandra Teske, Soprano

Alexandra has been described as "having wonderful technique, a glorious voice with underlying warmth, and a connection to the text that is riveting." Raised in Rosemont, Ontario she went on to receive her formal piano training from Gwen Beamish at the University of Western Ontario where she earned her BMus (Hons) as a Dean's List graduate and BEd. While studying with mezzo-soprano Catherine Robbin, she achieved First Class Honours on her ARCT vocal performer's exam. A frequent top award winner at music festivals, she earned first place in Classical Voice at the OMFA provincial finals.

As a secondary school music teacher, Alexandra directed music theatre productions, concert choirs, vocal jazz ensembles, and concert bands, leading them to award-winning performances at music festivals at both the local and national levels. As the classical piano teacher of her two talented children, accolades have included grants and highest honours at local music festivals and top three finishes at the OMFA provincial music competition. In addition to teaching, she continues working as a guest soloist, recitalist, vocal clinician, and ensemble singer throughout Ontario. Alexandra enjoyed a full circle moment as an adjudicator for the Rose Bowl competition at the Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival where she was once the recipient of this award as a pianist and vocal finalist.

She has been a featured soloist and chorister with The Cellar Singers most notably under the baton of Albert Greer with whom she studied privately. She was a soloist in the choir's performance of Vivaldi's Gloria. Alexandra has also been a guest soloist in the St. John's Concert Series, Alliston, the St. James' Concert Series, Orillia, and with the Muskoka Men of Song, Orillia Concert Band, Orillia Silver Band, and Orillia Vocal Ensemble. She was most recently a soloist in Bach's Magnificat with Whispering River Orchestra and Chorus, Parry Sound. Alexandra was a founding member of the vocal consort, Quire. She is a soloist and section lead at St. James' Anglican Church, Orillia.

Alexandra performed her debut solo recital with internationally-renowned pianist, Kyung-A Lee. Following this, she and pianist Emily Morrison captivated a sold-out audience with a recital at Windrush Estate Winery, Hockley Valley. Alexandra returned to Château Windrush for another sold-out performance this time as a trio with pianist Doreen Uren Simmons and mezzo-soprano Lillian Brooks. Under the direction of choirmaster Mark Vuorinen and tenor Benjamin Butterfield, she was an emerging artist in The Elora Singers' 2024 Vocal Academy. Alexandra is one of six singers to be accepted into The Art of Lied and Mélodie Master Course which will be led by bass baritone Daniel Lichti and pianist Laetitia Bougnol this summer in Kitchener. She is delighted to continue her studies with Catherine Robbin and soprano Leslie Fagan.

 

DANIEL VNUKOWSKI

Sunday, May 31, 2026 – 2:30 pm

ST. PAUL'S CENTRE

Our fifth and final concert features the well-known pianist for many of us who have already experienced some of his concert performances in Orillia.

Polish-Canadian pianist Daniel Vnukowski (pronounced Vnoo-koff'-skee) has performed throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia in prestigious concert halls. These have included large-scale concerts for crowds in the thousands and outreach recitals for youth in remote communities throughout Canada, as a founder of the "Piano Six – New Generation" program. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of the "Collingwood Music Festival."

The music of interwar Jewish composers also occupies a special place in Mr. Vnukowski's repertoire, which resulted in a sold-out Carnegie Hall recital debut in a program that included Karol Rathaus' Piano Sonata No. 3 not heard in New York since 1929; and released an all-Rathaus recording of solo piano music on the Toccata label. Vnukowski's virtual performances have made waves internationally, reaching over half a million viewers. His performances have been endorsed by Fazioli Pianoforte and featured on NPR Radio, Classical FM, Ludwig Van Toronto and BBC Music Magazine, among other media.

Since November 1, 2021, Mr. Vnukowski has been radio announcer of the Classical Jukebox on the New Classical FM, the only full-time classical radio station in English-speaking Canada. Visit ClassicalFM.ca for more information.

For more information about Daniel Vnukowski, visit his website.